Is the next American Idol in the local area? A Lima-based record label thinks it’s a possibility. Representatives from Sony and BMG will be in Marion on Saturday looking for that star.

New Experience Records, which has a distribution deal with Sony-BMG, and president James Milligan Jr. will host two seminars on the recording business.

The seminars, held at the Holiday Inn Express in two sessions, from 11-2 and 6-9, costs $25 to attend. Tapes of hopeful recording artists, however, can be dropped off free of charge.

97.5 WDCM’s Jester, host of Local Mic and the owner of Jester Court’s Recording Studio, will speak about recording studios. He has experience working not only locally, but also in Los Angeles studios with national recording artists.

Motown Records artist Lavel Jackson will also speak about the industry.

As for tips?

Milligan offers that each band should have a publicity kit with up-to-date contact information, a photo, and a biography. He also suggests putting the best song first on any demo.